Broody hen gone broodier in broody jail! Oy.

[rayrose]

I've had some broodies get claustrophobic in a 24 inch crate
and literally freak out. When I move them to a 30 inch crate,
they calm down. Every bird is different.

 

[Painted Calls]

THE SAGA OF ZIPPY CONTINUES!

Zippy is back in the plastic crate. But wait. Don't get mad at me yet.

If you're anywhere near New Orleans right now, you know that it is storming like judgment day over here...rain's coming in sideways like when Forrest Gump is in Vietnam. I had a cover over Zippy's wire kennel, and the whole thing in the shelter of the fig tree, but the rain is so heavy and the winds so serious that she was still getting drenched. So I go out there and try to bring the wire kennel inside, but it's too heavy for me. But you know what isn't too heavy for me to move by myself? That's right. The damn plastic crate!!

So I brought her inside and snuggled her in a towel to dry her off a bit, and set her back up in the crate, this time with no pine chips. This could potentially set her broodiness problem back a few days, but I guess I'd rather that than have her drown or get hypothermia.

@aart I can't tell you how much linguistic joy the etiology of this phrase brings me. Love it!

Please see below: pictures of Zippy and me, both mad as wet hens.
The last picture is from this morning. LOOK HOW PUFFY. For the sake of comparison, the other hen there is Ladybird, who is about her same size normally. Let me tell you. Zippy was NOT having it. She's less puffy now, but that may be because she is soaked to the bone.

Oh the adventures of chickening!

Edited: grammar error

Love it!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I also have a broody hen (Blue-laced Wyandotte), and have put her in chicken jail. Can they have a perch to sit on? I don't have a wire bottom cage--and would rather not buy one if I don't have to. I have her in a dog kennel, but covered the floor in one sheet of smooth cardboard, and put a perch in it, and she is sitting on the perch. It seems like that would get her good airflow. (The wire for days on their feet seems rough.) Will this work?

Yes a perch is fine as long as she's not trying to brood ON the perch.

I also don't have a wire bottom cage but I break my broodies very promptly, and I keep them in there until they're broken, so it's worked for me.

 

[The Witch Coop]

Yes a perch is fine as long as she's not trying to brood ON the perch.

I also don't have a wire bottom cage but I break my broodies very promptly, and I keep them in there until they're broken, so it's worked for me.

Yeah, it seems like sooner the better!

 

[MLCfromTennessee]

I have a broody hen. She will leave the nesting box to get food, water and stretch her legs. Other than inconveniencing the other hens that prefer that particular box, I don't see any point to break her broodiness.

 

[Viergacht]

I use puppy pads in the crate to absorb some of the moisture so my hen isn't sitting in her own waste. They're not comfortable to nest on - it's worked for my three that always seem to get broody.

 

[MLCfromTennessee]

Some hens will sit until they die. It's not healthy for them. Especially if they are sitting for no purpose.

She has 1 egg that is fertile, she gets off the nest everyday to eat and drink.

 

[Chkntender]

I have one chicken, buff Orpington that is broody quite a bit. I just take them out of their nesting box a few times a day for usually 3 days or so and they stop brooding. Has worked well so far. But my chickens don’t peck at me even if they are upset. Might need some heavy gloves if you are going to do this.

 

[Chkntender]

Good to know about the broody girls! I know sometimes my one I will go get if I haven’t seen her out in 2 days or so. I will watch more closely. Thank you for the info!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Yes! Please let us know!